Combined journal box and sealing closure



Aug. 3, 1943.

c. M. HANNAFORD COMBINED JOURNAL BOX AND SEALING CLOSURE Filed June 25, 1941 IL: ii;

Patented Aug. 3, 1943- UNiT D- f er -eras deceased I I .Apnlicatienr June 1 25, 'iicl'aims.

This invention relates :to journal box sealing 7 means and more particularly t'o means i'onclosjournalboxeslof railingand sealing openings .in way rolling stock. I H The invention-comprehends thelprovisio'n oi closure. v means applicable ifOI' closing and sealing a journal :leox opening which provides access -lto the bearing propervfor lubrication purposesyand togaisealingfclosure means :for-lthe journal .bOX opening which adn its thedust guard'ifor the. car axle..;- a 75 ii She l inventi n-comprehends the provision ofa combined olosure vand .sealing. aneansior. Ja journal box opening which .Willeffectivelyprevent the ingressfunder all weather conditionseof. sand;- dust, Water, snow, ice and other foreign matter as well astoprevent the escapefoflubri'cant from the journal box; f ;An object of the:. invention is theiprovisiono1 ajournal ;box and closure construction wherein the journal box andilclosure construction .are so configuratecl as .to form .when in assembled relationshi anefiective seal .;for the. journal box and wherein the closure isiormecl of a onepiece construction. j 1

Another object of the invention is the pro- 1941, Serial No.:3$3i;5f77:: I 631308.544 1 i. I I

vision of a closure or cover which mayabe applied .t'ostandard journaltboxes now in use with slight modification of the, journal :box wall'suri rounding the .openin in the. journal zbox struc-' ture. t

Further objects and adyantag'eslare within the scope of this invention such as relatento-the arrangement, operation and :function of the re-- lated elementsoi thestructure, to various details of :construction and to combinations of parts;

elements vper se, and to economies of manufacture .and numerousv other .features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a formiof the invention, which may be preferred, in which i I I Figure l'isla sectional elevational viewithrough a journal box illustratingithe closures -for the journal .loox openings forming a part of my invention; v V 1 IT 1 I Figure 2 is an end viewer the arrangement shown inFigure l; l

Figure 3 is a top plan'viewlofa portion of the,

structure shown in Figure l; 7 I 7 4 a 7 Figure is a fragmentaryseetional -view-taken substantially on the line 4-4- of Figured; I

Figure 5 is a sectional view. taken substantially on the line 5'-'- 5 of Figure :3; 1 l, Figures is a sectional-viewsimilar to Figure 4 showing a modified form of my inventiony i thickness of theibead'ifi *as shownin'E-igure 4. 1 I There is affixed to the .sheetfmetal cover 25 a mem'ber 3-2-whioh is provided with a p'or'tion 3'3 arranged so thatwhen the coverisin-open pen- 55 Figure-7 is a seotional- I '5 showing a modified form or may invention; I

I Referring to the drawing in detail, Will-desighates the journal i box of-.-a =railwayoar having an upper wall 'ljl contacting a wedge plate i-2',--the latter in'turn ioriningan abutment for "the hear ing brass l3 Which directly-contacts the ear-"axle;

i i. The journal box=isI1integrally,formedwith spacedwvertioally arranged 'r iiosror guides t6 :pro-

Viding groove :to Jacoommodatea dust guard 1'8,-

iabricated or" wood orotherlsuitable material which i-surrounds the car axle .[4 at the point of its :pro'jecti'onin'to the journal box, 7 i As shown in Figures l" and12, the -journal 'b'ox it iisprovided witha :rectangular opening: 25} in the forward :portion for the purpose of providing, aocess to the interior thereof for :plurpo'ses -of Integr'ally inspection, repair and lubrication. v I formediwith v.theipppger wall of the journal :box

andlprojectingvupwandly rea pair-oi cylindr'ieal I bOssesxZll 110111601 by an'irregularsection 22, the bosses Jandn'section hein-gbored to :receiveabinge or pivot .pin't'irl iuponawhichiii's pivoted 01559111 nallecla cover or closure :25." iillieahi-nge 'pinz fli U I is :heldin :place by means :Of a key"23. The coy ii'for "the opening vZfilhis preferably termed-tr sheet ":metaL; as gforrexa-mple; stez-zl or the like;

and .is' provided with integral rectangular :raisedportions or :flanges so .oonfigurated in icr ois's sectiongasto provide aohannel shape'having internal v and vexternal Lopposed lie-entrant I portions 21 and Zflqformihg a ere'stricted ithroat, there-entrant portions. being adapted when :the .coveris ihinged toiclosed'zposition vas indicatedl in Figure 1 t'otaka over or grip ithe' sbeadior. ridge i23 formed -integrallytof the. journal .boxvand defining the :op en- I ing therein, the :re entrant :portionsibeing rfoi r-ned of fsheet. metal are, resilient and. areisli htlyidis torted. when they are- :forc ed; overithloeaol 26 and engage in:theindented,zportionsa'fi and jSil r of the beadifiljoinedlon:thejburnalibox fform ing a iwedgi elilie .seal rtherewith.-. The sheet (metal I j I cover 25 for itheopening 11's of spring steel o'i' -is-'v tempered to provide :sufficient resiliency the.

rectangular raiseduportion and the ire-entrant portions thereof ifor'hbldillg thecover tightly uponthe heading surrounding the journal :nox: openingand providing an 2 effective seal therefor, 1 as the throat,formed by, the re-entrant portionsis normally or slightly lesser"dimension than the tion', it overtakes the section- 22 intermediate the .ew similar to Figure 7 adjacent; the edge of the closure.

cylindrical boss-like portions 2|, the member 32 serving to hold the cover in open position when it is desired to obtain access to the opening 20 inthe journal box. 7

The upper portion of the journal box is provided' with a rectangular opening formed by the vertical ribs lfilto receive the dust guard. The walls of the journal box construction defining the opening are "formed with'a continuous bead or ridge 36 as shown in Figure 5; As part 7 of my invention, I have provided a closure 31 for w the dust guard opening which is preterably fabwall portion having an indentation therein; a

ricated of sheet metal and configurated in cross section as shown in Figuresl and 5 having a uniplanarportion 38 terminating in a. continuous raised portion 39 forming a continuous groove As shown in Figure 5, the groove receives or takes over the closure formed-oi sheet metal arranged to close the opening in said journal box; said closure being formed with a continuous peripheral integral -beads or ridges 36 formed at the mouth of the Y journal box opening, the raised portion of the" cover forming the groove or channel beingconfigurated with re-entrant portions and M forming a restricted throat similar to re-entrant portions 21 and 28 on the cover 25, the re-entrant portions of the restricted throat engaging in the complemental restricted" portions Hand 44 of thebead 36. -When the-closure 31 is in assembled' relation with the journal box as shown in Figures 1, Brand 5 the closure is tightly held in sealed positionjupon the journal box construction'with the ref-entrant portions 49 and 4| of the closure gripping the restricted portions 43 and 44 of the bead 36 to provide an effective seal for, the dust guardiopening 35. Therclosure is preferably formed of spring steel or is tempered to inherently embody a sufficient degree'of resiliencyor spring to hold the closure tightly in sealed position on the journal box..'

, In Figure 6 there is illustrated a modified form of closure for the lubrication opening in the journal box wherein the closure 48 is provided with a peripheral flange 49 having a reeentrant por- I tion 50 forming an inwardly extending peripheral bead which-is arranged to take over a bead or ridge 5| formed on the exterior wall of a portion of the. journal box defining the lubrication 7 opening therein, the re-ent'rant portion'fill of the closure engaging in a restriction or indentation 52vpositioned adjacent the bead 5|. V The di- ,mension between the opposing re-entrant porf tions 50 of the flange 49 is slightly less than the maximum dimensionbetween the opposing exterior'surface of the bead 5| formed on the joure nalvbox Wall so that'the;re entrantportions of the closure are distorted slightly when the same are forced over the bead 5L1 Theresiliency in the sheet metal closure flange Hand particularlytheclosure portion '50 is adequate to hold the closure in sealing engagement with the journalvbox to efiectively seal the vopening when the closure is in closedposition.

Figure 7' illustrates the modified formof the invention as applied to a: closure .for 1 the dust guard, opening 25 in which the closure is provided with a uniplanar portion-55, a peripheral fiange-5$ which is formed with re-entrant portions 5'1v and 58 taking over the bead'59 formed on the journal box. There-entrant portions 51 and 58 extendinto the indentations or restric-v tions 60 and 6i formed on thejournal box' ribs l6? and when the closure is in assembled re1ationship with thejournal box asshown in :Fig-

guard pe i'neure 7 serves to eifec 'vely close and: seal the dust rt apparent; that, Within the scope, or the configuration including re-entrant portions, said re-entrant portions adapted to be distorted and sprung over the exterior surface of the bead on said journal boxand engage-in and snugly fit the wall of the indentation therein when the closure is in'closed position tovefiect theseal for 'the opening in the journal box.,

2. In combination a .journal box having an opening; a, bead integrally formed .on said journal 7 box surrounding said opening, the cross sectional configuration. of said bead having a restricted portion integrally connecting the bead with the journal box; a closure formedof sheet metal pivotally connected to said journal box and ar-' ranged to close the opening'therein, "said closure having: a raised channel shaped portion formed integrally therewitir'said channel shaped portion having a "restricted throat arranged to be distorted to fit over 'saidib'eadand engage the re stricted portion thereof when the closure is in closed position to, effect a seal for the openingin the journal box. '7 v 3. In combination a journal box'having a sub stantially rectangular opening; a bead'integraliy i formed on said journal box surrounding said opening, thecross-sectionalconfiguration or" said bead having: a restrictediportion connecting the I bead with the journalbox; a closure iornied'of sheet metal arranged to close the opening in said journal box, said closure having a raised channel shaped configuration integrally formed therewith, said channel sh'aped' configuration having a restricted'throat arranged to be sprung over 7 the bead of said journal box, the said restricted throat arranged to engage in and snugly fit the walls of the restricted'portion of-said bead who the closure is in closed position. i 1 4.1m. combination ..afjournal. lbox having an opening; a bead integrally'formed onisaidljou'rnal box and defining said opening, the cross-sectional configuration" of said bead having a. restricted portion connecting the bead with the'journalbox a closure formed ofsheet metal pivotally Vcon-.

nected to the journalbox. andarranged. to close the opening in said journal boxsaid closure'being formed withaperipheralchannel portion; the walls of said channel-being provided with-reentrant portions forming a restricted-throat; the throat-ofsaid channel portion being of a dirneh-- sion slightly less than the width of the bead Slllii rounding the journal box opening, the re-ent'rant' portions of said throat being arranged .to 'be slightly distorted and sprung ovensalid bead to engage the restricted portion of said lb'eadwhen the closure is in closedposition to effect aseal. 'iortheopeningin the journal box. 5. Incombination a journal box having any opening; a bead integrally formed on said jollrn'al box and defining the openingtherein; the cross- V sectional configuration, of, said bead ihaving'na restricted portion connecting the bead with. the

journal box; a closure formed of sheet metal pivotally connected to the journal box and arranged to close the opening therein, said closure having a peripheral'flange projecting therefrom formed With a peripherally arranged inwardly extending bead; the dimension between opposed portions of the bead on said closure being of lesser dimension than the dimension between opposing portions of the bead on said journal box whereby the head on said closure is slightly distorted and sprung over the bead on said journal box when the closure is moved to closed'posit-ion.

'6. In combination a journal box having an opening; a bead integrally formed on said journal box, the cross-sectional configuration of said head having a restricted portion connecting the bead with the journal box; a closure for saidopening formed of sheet metal and pivotally connected to said journal box, said closure having a raised portion configurated in cross-section to form opposed re-entrant portions, said re-entrant portions arranged to be distorted and forced over the bead defining said journalbox openingwhen the closure is inoved to closed positionto effect a seal for the opening in the journal box.

7 7. In combination a journal box having a substantially rectangular opening; a bead integrally 7 formed on said journal box and defining said opening, the cross-sectional configuration of said head having a restricted portion connecting the and sprung over said bead to engage in andsnugly V fit the Walls of the restricted portion of said bead y when the closure is in closed position to eiiect a seal for the opening in the journal box.

CLEON M. HANNAFORD; 

